Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017
418. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to raise the awareness of safety for cyclists and proposals for the co-operative use of infrastructure by cyclists and vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50819/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the importance of safety for our cyclists and I am very conscious of the increase in cycling fatalities this year. My Department continues to work with and fund key stakeholders to address how road users behave on our roads in order to promote a safe and respectful approach from all users sharing the public road space.
The Road Safety Authority, which operates under the aegis of my Department, continues to do great work to get this important message across. The RSA’s ‘Cycle Smart, Cycle Safe’ campaign directly addressed safety issues for cyclists, including equipment check, Rules of the Road, sharing the road and proper signalling procedures. The RSA continually addresses road safety issues for all road users - including raising awareness of how other road users should interact safely with cyclists - and it actively engages with a variety of key stakeholders across a wide range of media.
Measures to ensure road safety in our communities include the Road Safety Act 2016 which created legislation to have a 20km/h speed limit, and I hope to see local authorities making use of this important new provision. In 2015 on-the-spot fines were introduced for several cycling offences, including cycling ‘without reasonable consideration’ and ‘cycling in a pedestrianised street or area’. My Department also funds Cycle Right and the Green Schools Travel programmes, which help provide quality cycle training for children.
I am also conscious of the key contribution that cycling can play as part of an integrated Public Transport strategy. Census 2016 recorded a steep rise in the numbers cycling to work. That growing trend will be catered for by providing a network of safe cycling facilities that will encourage increased numbers to adopt what is a convenient and healthy mode of transport. As traffic levels rise in urban areas, cycling will play an increasing role in alleviating congestion and contributing to economic success.
That can be supported by investment in high quality cycling infrastructure, and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of Budget 2018 I have secured increased allocations for safe cycling infrastructure over the period 2018-2021. Over €110m will now be available specifically for the development of cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and Regional Cities over the next four years to provide safe alternative active travel routes to help alleviate congestion by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure. In addition, the considerable investment of about three-quarters of a billion euro for re-configuring the bus network and infrastructure over the coming years will also deliver the construction of significant new cycling facilities alongside bus routes on the key radial routes into the city centre and provide safe cycling arrangements, largely segregated from other traffic, along those corridors. Some of the €135m funding that will be provided to local authorities in the GDA and the Regional Cities for Sustainable Urban Transport will support better traffic management, bus priority measures and pedestrian infrastructure - which will benefit the safe and effective movement of all. Finally, in the area of Greenways, in the recent Budget there was more than a doubling of the investment available up to 2021, with a capital allocation now of over €55m to deliver Greenway projects. All of these investments will contribute to a considerable improvement in the cycling infrastructure available over the next few years.
